Electrical system.



R. P. JACKSON.

ELECTRiCAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. l9l6.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919,

INVENTOR Ray PJackson'.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED BAY P. JACKSON, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGINOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPQRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, RAY P. JAoKsoiv, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Systems, of-whi ch the following is a specification. w

My invention relates to electrical systems for automobiles and particularly to systems in which the direction of current through the primarycircuits of ignition systems is periodically reversed.

My invent-ion has for its object to provide a system of the above indicated character which embodies a simple and eflicient means for reversing the direction of current traversing the contact members of an interrupter in the primary circuit of an ignition system.

In the operation of interrupter mechanisms for the ignition circuits of internalcombustion engines, it is desirable that the current be reversed periodically in order to maintain substantially plane surfaces upon the faces of the contact members. If each of the contact members is permanently con-- nected to one pole of a battery or a mag-,

neto, as the case may be, current always flows from the same contact member to the other in the are which follows their separation to break the primary circuit.

The result-is to cause one contact piece to become pitted because of thesu'rface metal being carried away and to cause projections on the surface of the other contact member because of the metal deposited during the existence of the arc.. The efficiency of the interrupter is decreased by the resulting poor electrical contact between the irregular surfaces of its contact members and the life of the mechanism is correspondingly shortened.

It has been proposed, heretofore, to ac complish the reversal of direction of current traversing the contact members of interrupters by means of reversing switches located upon the dashboards of automobiles and operatively connected to the manually operable switches for controlling the ignition circuits. in such arrangements, it is necessary that each of the various conductors which connect the source of current and the interrupter mechanism to the reversing switch be brought to the dashboard. In view of the distances separating the various Patented Apr. 1, 191a.

Application filed February 3, 1916. Serial Zlo. 76,029.

mechanisms and the difficulty in providing means for supporting a large number of conductors, the above described arrangement possesses a number of disadvantages.

According to the present invention, I provide a reversing switch which controls the direction of current traversing the primary circuit of the ignition system in accordance with. the operation of the usual electric starting motor. A reversing switch mechanism is actuated to reverse the electrical connections of the primary circuit of the ignition system. An electromagnet, which is operat vely connected to the reversing switch my means of a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, has a magnetizing winding, in circuit with the startin motor. The electromagnet is provided, a so, with a holding coil that is in circuit with the electrogen'erator of the double-unit system inconnection with which my invention is emplo ed. a

The details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompany me; drawing in which the single'figure is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus embodying my invention.

An electric motor 1, which may be operatively connected to the internal combustion engine of an automobile, has a series fieldinagnet winding 2. An electric generator 3. which is also operatively connected to the internal-combustion engine in any suitable manner, has a shunt field-magnet winding 4-.

The main or charging circuit of the gene rator is controlled by a cutout 5 which comprises a core member 6 of magnetic material, a coil '7 that is in series with the armature of the generator and a coil 8 that is in series with the shunt field-magnet winding 4. A pivotally mounted armature member 9 controls the connection of a storage battery 11 to a common point of the coils '3" and 8. A spring 12 normally holds the armature memher 9 in its uppermost position to break the main circuit of the generator.

An ignition system, which is supplied with energy from the generator? or the battery 11, as the case may be, comprises an inter rupter having a rotatable cam 13 that is operatively connected to the generator 3, a stationary contact member 14: and a coacting movable contact member lfi tliat is j tion coil 1?, a distributer 18 that is opera'tively connected to the generator 3, and the usual spark plugs 19. v

The electricalconnections of the interrupter contact members are controlled by a reversing switch mechanism 21 comprising contact segments 22, 23, 24; 25 and 26 and contact fingers 27,, 28, 29 and 30. The re versing switch 21 is controlled by an electromagnet 32 which comprises a core member 33 of magnetic material, a coil 34 that is in parallel-circuit relation to the starting motor 1, a coil 35 that is connected across the terminals of the generator 3, and a movable armature member 36. -The movable armature member 36 is operatively connected to the reversing switch 21 by means of a pawland-ratchet mechanism 37. The ignition circuit is controlled by a pair of relatively movable contact members 38 and 39 which are in engagement only when the movable armature member 36 occupies its uppermost position. The ignition circuit is controlled also by a manually operable switch 40 which may be the usual plug switch of the type 25 that is mounted upon the dashboard of an automobile.

In-the' operation of the system described.

above, a switch 41 is closed to complete the circuit of the startlng motor 1. The motor to circuit extends from one termmal of the storage battery 11 through switch 41, arma-v ture of, motor 1, and field-magnet winding 2 to ground and thence to the grounded ter-.

minal of the battery 11. A- parallelcircuit, 85 which is also completed by the switch 41, ex-

tends through coil 34 and core member 33 to ground. The coil 34 is energized to cause the-armature member 36 to be drawn upwardly to efiect the engagement of contact to members 38 and.39 and thereby render the ignition mechanism operative. The starting motor 1 operates to crank the internal-combustion engine to which it is operatively connected.

. starting motor, the generator 3 and the ign1t1on mechanism will be operated to cause ignition sparks at the spark plugs 19. The

primary circuit of the ignition system extends from one terminal of the battery 11 through plug switch 40, contact members 38 and 39, contact finger 27, contact segment 22, contact finger 28, interrupter contact members 14 and 15, interrupter lever 13, con

'55 tact finger 39, contact segment 23, contact operative position by the coil 35 which is Z zed by the generator 3 and operates as a ho. ding coil to maintain the closure of the During the actuation of the engine by the electromagnet during such time as the generator 3 is in operation. Current also traverses the circuit comprising the generator 3, shunt field-magnet winding 4 and coils 8 and 7 of the cutout 5. When the voltage of the generator reaches a predetermined value, the armature member 9 is drawn dow'nwardly to'connect the generator 3 to the battery 11, the coil 7 acting as a holding coil to maintain the charging circuit of the generator during such time as the voltage of the latter is greater than that of the battery.

To stop the engine, it is only necessary to open the switch 40 to render the ignition mechanism inoperative. When the speed of the generator 3 falls to a rate at which its voltage is less than that of the battery 11, current tends to flow in a reverse direction through the charging circuit comprising the holding coil 7. The latter, which normally assists the shunt coil 8, now opposes it, and the armature member 9 is released to open the charging'circuit. When the generator, voltage has decreased to substantially zero I value, the coil35 is deenergized andthe 90 armature member 36 is drawn downwardly by force of gravity to separate the contact members 38 and 39 and to actuate the reversing switch through the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 37.

To again start the engine, the cycle of operations above described is repeated. It will be noted, however, that the electrical connections of the interrupter contact members 14 and 15 have been reversed by the switch 21. When the armature member 36' is drawn upwardly to effect the engagement of the contact members 38 and 39, the primary circuit of. the'ignition system extends from one terminal of the battery through the switch-40, contact members 38 and 39, con tact finger 27, contact segments 24 and 26, contact finger 30, interrppter contact menu-- here 15 and 14, contact finger 28, contact segment 25, contact finger "'29 and the primary winding of the induction coil 17 to ground and thence to the grounded terminal of the battery. i

It will be readily understood that the electrical connections of the interrupter contact members are reversed periodically, the frequency of such reversals corres ondin to the use of the starting motor. t has been found in practice that the starting of the engine occurs with sufficient frequency to maintain the interrupter contact members in satisfactory condition. It may be noted, also, that I provide an automatic arrangement for controlling the i ition system in accordance with the electrlcal conditions of the starting motor and that the operation of the ignition system is maintained in accord;

'ance with the electrical conditions of the may occur to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains and it is understood that such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. In an electrical system, the combina tion with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of electrores )onsive means actuated in accordance wit circuit conditions of said motor for controlling the electrical connections of said interrupter.

2. In an electricalsystem, the combination with a starting motor and an ignition circuit comprisingan-interrupter, of means controlled in accordance with conditions in the starting motor circuit for reversing the electrical connections of said interrupter.

3. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of a reversing switch for controlling the electrical connections of said interrupter, and electroresponsive means in circuit with said motor for actuating said reversing switch.

4. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of an electric generator, and electro-responsive means controlled in accordance with circuit conditions of said motor and said generator for controlling the electrical connections of said interrupter.

5. In an electrical system, the combination withan electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of an electric generator, and an electro-magnet for controlling the electrical connections of said interrupter, said electromagnet comprising a coil in parallel-circuit relation to said motor and a coil in shunt relation to said generator.

6. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of an electric generator, and an electromagnet for controlling the electrical connections of'said interrupter, said electrom'agnet comprising an actuating coil in circuit with said motor and a holding coil in circuit with said generator.

7. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of electroresponsive means actuated in accordance with motor circuit conditions for simultaneously controlling said ignition circuit and reversing the electrical connections of said interrupter.

8. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of a reversing switch for controlling the electrical connections of said interrupter, an electroresponsive device in circuit with said motor. and a ratchet mechanism for operatively connecting said device to said switch.

9. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of a reversing switch for controlling the electrical connections of said interrupter, an electroresponsive devicein circuit with said motor having a movable member for controlling the ignition circuit and for actuating said switch.

10. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric generator, 'an electric motor, and ignition mechanism, of means controlled by circuit conditions of said generator and said motor for controlling the operation of said ignition mechanism.

"11. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric motor, and an ignition circuit comprising an interrupter, of electroresponsive means automaticallyactuated in accordance with the circuit conditions of said motor for reversing the electrical connections of said interrupter.

"""12. In an electrical system, the combination with an electric generator, an electric motor, and ignition-mechanism, of means automatically controlled by circuit connections of said generator and said motor for reversing the circuit connections of said ignition mechanism.

In testimony. whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of Jan.

RAY P. JACKSON. 

